The Names: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER and a READ WITH JENNA PICK—A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION READ

“Dazzling.” —The Washington Post

“A magnificent novel.” —Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Horse

“This one will stay with me for years to come.” —Miranda Cowley Heller, New York Times bestselling author of The Paper Palace

In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son's birth. Her husband, Gordon, respected in the community but a controlling presence at home, intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and name the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates...

Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of their lives, shaped by Cora’s last-minute choice of name. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing.

Through a prism of what-ifs, Florence Knapp invites us to consider the "one . . . precious life" we are given. Full of hope, this is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. It is the story of one family and love’s endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store.

The book’s brilliantly imaginative structure, propulsive storytelling, and emotional power are certain to make The Names a modern classic.

Florence Knapp has previously written a non-fiction book about a centuries-old method of quilt making, as well as contributing to a book for the Victoria & Albert Museum. She lives just outside London with her husband and their dog. Their two children have now flown the nest. The Names is Knapp’s debut novel and will be translated into more than twenty languages.

Praise for The Names:

“Knapp’s plotting is skillful, her tapestry of stories cleverly woven…The Names stands out as a compelling and original debut, a book that asks at least as many questions as it answers.”
—The Guardian

“Dazzling. . . Its premise sets up a sort of thought experiment, but the novel is really a profound, deeply compassionate examination of domestic abuse. . . The Names is startlingly joyful and paced like a thriller. I raced through it and immediately read it again. . . Knapp brings an eye for precise detail to her descriptions of domestic spaces and the natural world. She writes with exceptional skill and passion about artists and artisans. . . Knapp tirelessly and beautifully replicates not just loss and grief but endless rebirth and delight, 'the glorious burn of being fully loved.'”
—The Washington Post

“Elegant. . . this is a wholly original work.”
—People

“With The Names, Florence Knapp takes a straightforward speculative premise—what if the name you were given actually determined the path your life would take?—and delivers a grounded, gut-wrenching portrait of the butterfly effect. . . a deft and lovely story.”
—Elle

“Insightful… [this] debut novel has “book club” written all over it. It is guaranteed to make readers reflect about their own lives—how they compare to the characters’ lives, how they might have gone differently if a few circumstances were changed, how they’ve been shaped by the choices we and others made.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Astonishing, unique and incredibly moving, The Names is a beautiful novel about the courage of a mother in the moment she names her child and where this leads in three different timelines. It’s a memorable book from a wonderful writer and I know it will stay with me for a long time.”
—Jeanine Cummins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of American Dirt and Speak to Me of Home

“An unadulterated success: moving, evocative and utterly convincing… Immerse yourself in Knapp’s picture-perfect set pieces and emotional realism. I read The Names in a single afternoon, glued to the pages, occasionally wiping away a tear. It’s one of those books that will make you irritable with anyone who interrupts you, but which you’ll finish wanting to press into the hands of a friend. I can see the film adaptations, the book club meetings, the talk-show discussions spooling out in its future: make sure to read it first.”
—The Times

“This noteworthy debut explores a sobering topic with creativity, cleverness, and care. . . the boldness and thoughtfulness of Knapp’s plotting add complexity and a welcome unpredictability. . . inviting the reader to think about not just the ripple effects of a single decision and the workings of an abusive family but also about a profound and classic concern of fiction: How things we can control in life interact with things we could never have seen coming.”
—Kirkus (starred review)

“Intriguing and nuanced…Readers won’t be able to stop talking about this intelligent exploration of a single choice’s long tail of repercussions.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Compelling [and] emotionally wrenching. . . In clear, compelling prose, Knapp delicately builds a layered story about fate, free will, trauma, and hope. . . . Both devastating and hopeful, this novel and its characters will linger with readers long after they finish the last page.”
—Booklist (starred review)

“The Names mesmerizes with writing that is both visceral and beautifully crafted, containing something of the timeless quality of. . . Claire Keegan. Knapp’s economical language delivers powerful, full-bodied imagery that captures the stakes for the characters in every line. Masterfully working with all three timelines, Knapp presents a complex and deeply affecting story, at once heartrending and hopeful.”
—BookPage (starred review)